Shaquille O'Neal Retires: Which Top NBA Stars Are Next to Go?

In a very anticlimactic end to the career of one of the best big men in NBA history, Shaquille O’Neal has finally called it quits. He made the announcement via Twitter this afternoon.

O’Neal finishes his 19-year NBA career averaging 23.7 points and 10.9 rebounds per game. Most importantly, he ends with four championships. Four championships are more than Patrick Ewing, Hakeem Olajuwon and Karl Malone combined, but he’ll be most remembered for finishing with fewer championships than former teammate, Kobe Bryant.

In an interview with ESPN.com’s Jackie MacMullan, O’Neal blames a nagging Achilles injury for his retirement, citing that the recovery would have been extensive, and he didn’t want to leave the Celtics and GM Danny Ainge waiting around for him.

With Shaq now gone, who will be the next NBA star to retire?

Here are seven possible stars that could be the next to follow Shaq into retirement.

Kevin Garnett

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For the most part, Kevin Garnett has remained healthy for the Boston Celtics, only missing time due to minor injuries. He has also continued to play at a level not far from his younger days in Minnesota.

Garnett makes this list because he is 35 years old and starting to get to that age where minor injuries can turn into major ones.

Garnett isn’t the type of guy to accept a lesser role because of his age—he is too big of a competitor.

If he starts to break down, or if he wins his second title with the Celtics, Garnett could call it a career.